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UPDATE

Rio Grande County Public Health is currently unable to conduct tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) due to a national shortage of one of the test antigens.

Please call our office for more information or to learn more about the updated guidance that reduces requirements for annual testing in many situations.

Who We Are

Prevention, people and partnerships sum up the work of local public health programs. The main purpose of public health is to make sure all of us have the opportunity to be healthy in mind, body and spirit. Most public health work is population-based, meaning it focuses on improving the health of the entire community rather than addressing individual health care needs.

The mission of Rio Grande County Public Health Agency is

to protect and improve the health of the people of Rio Grande County, Colorado.

What We Value

The World Health Organization's ecological model of health which says: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

The diversity of individuals and communities we serve and their differing approaches to health.

Collaboration.

What we do should assist people in addressing underlying factors that affect good health.

Effective leadership.

Being responsible stewards of public trust and resources.

A diverse staff that is selected with care, treated respectfully, held accountable and encouraged to grow.

Continuous improvement.

Balancing science and practice with the wisdom and beliefs of the people we serve.

Emphasis on prevention, health promotion and early intervention.

Postioning

Rio Grande County Department of Public Health is part of a local system that focuses on the following:

Preventing epidemics and the spread of disease

Protecting against environmental hazards

Preventing injuries

Promoting and encouraging healthy behaviors

Responding to disasters and assisting communities in recovery

Assuring the quality and accessibility of health services

Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations - public and private, communities and individuals

Current Services

There are 4,000 chemicals in cigarettes, 43 of them are CANCER-CAUSING agents. Your unborn baby receives those poisons every time you smoke.

If you are currently pregnant and smoking or just recently quit smoking and pregnant, you are eligible for the Baby & Me Tobacco Free Program. There are no income requirements.

Pregnancy is the perfect time to quit smoking. When you avoid tobacco you:

DECREASE your risk of a miscarriage

HELP baby’s lungs grow strong

IMPROVE baby’s overall health

HELP to ensure your baby is born on time and not born prematurely

IMPROVE your baby’s birth weight

LIVE LONGER, HEALTHIER, AND HAPPIER WITH YOUR BABY

When you successfully complete the program requirements, you can receive 12 monthly diaper vouchers as a reward for remaining smoke free for baby’s first year.

TRY US OUT! THIS IS AN AWARD WINNING PROGRAM THAT REALLY WORKS

Made possible by grants from the Colorado Health Foundation and Rocky Mountain Health Plans

Contact Dianne Koshak RN at the Rio Grande County Public Health Agency for more details -

(719) 657-3352

Healthy Communities focuses on the “Life Cycle” of our clients, which includes all the activities that must happen to obtain coverage and access to health care services in appropriate settings. Healthy Communities provides Family Health Coordinators to Serve CHP+ and Medicaid clients with case management and other resources.

Family Health Coordinators:

Offer information on how to apply for Medicaid /CHP+ and assist with applications.

Inform where to submit applications.

Educate on preventive healthcare services and how to access their benefits.

Link providers to serve as a Medical Home for families. A “Medical Home” is a way to get children and families ongoing, coordinated, and comprehensive care. A “Medial Home” allows families to get the medical and non –medical services needed.

Provide information and referrals to other community programs and resources.

Explain re-enrollment to prevent gaps in coverage

Contact Ida Salazar at the Rio Grande County Public Health Agency for more details -

Rio Grande County Public Health Agency will help prepare you for healthy and safe international travel!

If you are traveling internationally for work, to visit friends or family, or for vacation, traveling abroad can put you at risk for diseases that are common in other regions of the world. To improve your chances of staying healthy, the International Travel Clinic at Rio Grande County Public Health Agency provides individual consultation and immunizations before traveling to that long awaited destination. Our services can help protect you from diseases such as Hepatitis A or B, Yellow Fever, Typhoid Fever, and Malaria.

TravWell

CDC’s TravWell app helps you plan for safe and healthy international travel. Build a trip to get destination-specific vaccine recommendations, a checklist of what you need to do to prepare for travel, and a customizable healthy travel packing list. The app also lets you store travel documents, keep a record of your medications and immunizations, and set reminders to get vaccine booster doses or take medicines while you’re traveling.

Key Features

Authoritative recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Can I Eat This?

Montezuma’s revenge, Delhi belly, or travelers’ diarrhea—whatever you call it, it can ruin your international trip. Help prevent travelers’ diarrhea by using CDC’s Can I Eat This? app. Select the country you’re in and answer a few simple questions about what you’re thinking about eating or drinking, and Can I Eat This? will tell you whether it’s likely to be safe. With Can I Eat This?, you can be more confident that your food and drink choices won’t make you spend your international trip in the bathroom.

Key Features

Authoritative recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Vaccines are recommended for all children and adults to prevent getting and spreading diseases. Vaccines are especially important for children and people with chronic conditions, who are more likely to develop complications from certain vaccine-preventable diseases.

Children under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or person who has the authority to give consent. Please bring your child's current immunization record with you to your visit. If you would like to obtain your child's immunization record, contact your child's school, primary care provider, or Rio Grande County Public Health.

The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides vaccines at low-to-no cost to eligible children 18 years of age and under, following the ACIP/AAP/AAFP pediatric immunization recommendations. Eligible children are those who are on Medicaid, have no insurance, who are Native American/Alaska Natives or who are underinsured (insurance does not cover vaccines). As participants in the VFC program, children without health insurance can receive vaccines at $10 per shot or a donation. No child is turned away for inability to pay.

Adult routine immunizations are offered for school, work, immigration and routine purposes. Medicaid is accepted. Most private insurances are accepted. Please bring your insurance card to every appointment, so that we can assess eligibility.

Rio Grande County Public Health specializes in offering comprehensive travel health consultation, education, immunizations, and expert advice for individuals, families, and groups traveling to exotic and exciting locales throughout the world. See our Travel Clinic page for more information.

How to Schedule an Immunization Appointment

Our Immunization Clinic is open every Tuesday. Please call our office to schedule an appointment. We will do our best to give our clients prompt and friendly care. If Tuesdays are inconvenient, alternative appointments can be scheduled other times during the week.

We would be happy to assist you in locating immunization records, compiling records from multiple sources, and assessing your immunization status so you know that you are up to date on all recommended vaccines for your age and lifestyle.

We accept the following insurances:

Anthem BlueCross BlueShield

Colorado Access

Rocky Mountain Health Plans

SLV HMO/Colorado Choice Health Plans

CHP+ (Child Health Plan Plus)

Medicare - Part B

Medicaid

Contact Rio Grande County Public Health to schedule an appointment or for more information -

(719) 657-3352

Rio Grande Prevention Partners is the local community-driven substance abuse prevention coalition for Rio Grande County. To learn more about our group and how to get involved, visit www.RGPP.org or Facebook.

Mission: Partnering to create a county-wide environment conducive to safe, healthy, and productive living through education, awareness, and community support.

Rio Grande County Public Health is part of the San Luis Valley Prevention Coalition Network, a regional structure to coordinate and support local substance abuse prevention efforts in the San Luis Valley. See more about us at www.SanLuisValleyPrevention.org or on Facebook.